The total number of executions carried out between September 23, and October 22 has reached an unprecedented figure of at least 283 people — the highest in the past four decades. Independent and human rights sources emphasize that this number represents only the officially reported portion of reality, as many executions are conducted secretly without any public announcement.
Comparing these figures with previous years reveals a shocking trend:
- September 23 to October 22, 2022 = 36 executions
- September 23 to October 22, 2023 = 81 executions
- September 23 to October 22, 2024 = 152 executions
- September 23 to October 22, 2025 = 283 executions
The rapid surge in these figures illustrates the regime’s policy of intensified repression and internal pressure in the face of growing political and social crises.
Statistical Composition of Executions: The Real Face of Structural Violence
Analysis of the statistics during this period shows that the structure of executions spans across women, minors, ethnic minorities, and foreign nationals:
- Women executed: 7
- Juvenile offenders (under 18 at the time of crime): 2
- Drug-related charges: 134
- Murder charges: 134
- Baluch prisoners: 10
- Afghan nationals: 11
- Espionage charges: 2
Execution in Iran is not merely a judicial reaction but a core element of the ruling system — a mechanism for elimination, not reform.
A look at statistics from the past seven months shows that at least 1,138 prisoners have been executed across the country. The details themselves reflect the depth of the tragedy:
- Women executed: 36
- Juvenile offenders executed: 6
- Political prisoners: 22
- Drug-related charges: 555
- Murder charges: 489
- Baluch prisoners: 116
- Kurdish prisoners: 44
- Afghan nationals: 59
- Espionage charges: 12
The widespread use of executions reflects the Iranian regime’s reliance on them as a tool to project false authority and instill fear throughout society.
Why Have Executions Accelerated?
The key question is why the dictatorship ruling Iran, while facing multiple domestic and international crises, has resorted to accelerating executions.
On one hand, economic pressures caused by sanctions, deadlocks in regional policy, and global isolation have eroded the regime’s political legitimacy. On the other, the Iranian people, following the mass protests of 2022, have demonstrated their capability and determination for change.
In this situation, “execution” serves as a psychological weapon for the regime — a means to threaten society, intimidate dissidents, and maintain control in the face of growing dissent. However, evidence from the ground indicates that this repressive policy has lost its deterrent effect.
Protests Inside Prisons: A Sign of the Collapse of Fear
The strike of 1,500 prisoners in Ward 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison and the gathering of their families protesting the implementation of death sentences present a clear image of resistance against this deadly policy.
Support for the “Tuesdays for No to Execution” campaign, both inside prisons and within society, demonstrates that the regime has failed to enforce total silence even behind prison walls.
“Execution,” once intended as a tool of fear, has now turned into a spark for protest and solidarity.
The Responsibility of the International Community and Human Conscience
In such a catastrophic situation, the responsibility of the international community, human rights organizations, and the United Nations is heavier than ever.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran and other international bodies must continuously and publicly pressure the regime’s leaders to halt executions.
Silence or inaction in the face of these crimes amounts to complicity in the cycle of death.
